Clamp



Sept. 29, 1931. v 1.. NEEDLMAN CLAMP Filed Oct. '7. 1929 V 30 the body of the shoe.

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 PATENT OFFHZE LOUIS N EEDLMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CLAMP Application'filed October 7, 1929. Serial No. 397,886.

This invention relates to a method and means for gluing heels to shoes, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved means for holding the heel against the shoe while the glue or other cementitious material securing the heel in place is setting.

It is customary in gluing heels to shoes to clamp the heel in position while the glue is is setting. In different styles of shoes the heels are inclined at difierent angles to the body of the shoe, hence difficulties have been en countered in using a given clamp for shoes of different styles. Unless special care is v 15 taken during the clamping process the heelmay not be securely glued in place, or the body of the shoe may be twisted out of place at the heel portion or it may be otherwise mutilated. It is an object of the present in- 2 vention to provide a clamp wherein the portion of the clamp that fits into the shoe is shaped to conform with the inside of the shoe at the heel portion thereof so as to avoid mutilating the inner portion of the shoe, and is swiveled about a universaljoint whereby it automatically adjusts itself in the direction of the line of application of forceregardless of theangle that the particular heel being clamped may make with The portion of the clamp that fits into the shoe is free to turn with respect to the rest of the clamp so that when the clamping screw is turned to clamp the heel against the shoe that portion of the clamp, and with it the shoe, need not rotate. This greatly facilitates the ease with which the clamp may be applied tothe shoe. 7 In accordance with the present invention the portion of the clamp that seats within the heel portion of the shoe 1s readily removable from the rest of the clamp structure. By this arrangement the same clamp may be used for different sizes of shoes by merely replacing that portion with one slightly larger or smaller, as needed. The portion of the clamp that fits into the shoe may be made in two or three sizes and one of the desired size inserted into the clamp dependent upon the size of the shoe to be clamped.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a view of the clamp showing the manner in which a heel is clamped in place; 7

V Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the manner in which the swivel heel piece is held in place; and

Figure 3 is a top view of the clamp heel piece.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings showing the clamp and the manner in which the clamp may be used to hold a shoe anda heel in position to permit the glue between the shoe and the heel piece to set. The clamp comprises a bracket having an arm 11 which provides a flat surface12 against which an object to be clamped is pressed and an upper arm 13 which has a threaded hole 14 therein throughwhich the screw 15 is threaded. The screw-15 has a usual handle portion 16 secured to one end thereof to facilitate turning of the screw. The structure thus far described is of standard construction well known in the art and a further description thereof is not believed to be necessary.

A swivel member 20 is set in the end of the screw 15 being free to rotate with respect to the screw. For this purpose the screw 15 has a hole 22 bored through its end as-may be seen in Figure 2. The member 20 has a cylindrical stem 23which, fits into the hole 22. Shoulders 24 limit the movement of the member 20 into the hole 22. The stem 23 is free to rotate in the socket 22. A heel plate 27 having a pair of integral ear portions 25 in the form of an inverted U, as seen in F igure -2, ispivoted to the swivel member bymeans of a pin indicated at 26.

The heel plate is free to swing about the pin 26 as a center and is free to turn in. the socket 22 about the stem 23 as an aXis. Thus the plate is capable of universal motion: The heelplate, including the ears 25 is cast as an integral unit, the upper surface of the plate lUD being curved to conform with the shape of the bottom inside heel portion of a shoe, that is the portion whereon the heel of the wearer rests.

Figure 1 shows the manner in which the clamg holds the heel portion of a shoe against the rest of the shoe while the glue between the two parts is setting. The bottom of the heel rests upon an elastic member 18, of rubber or the like secured to the surface 12 of the clamp by means of a countersunk screw, and the surface of the heel plate 27 rests within the shoe, being shaped to fit the surface of the shoe. By turning the screw 15 pressure may be applied between the parts, the elastic member preventing undue stressing of the heel. It is to be noted that the pressure is exerted substantially centra ly of the heel of the shoe and substantially in line with the axis of the heel. lVhen the clamp 15 is turned to tighten the parts it is not necessary for the shoe to also turn since the plate 27 need not rotate under these circumstances due to the presence of the stem 23 which permits turning of the screw without turning of the heel plate. As a result of this arrangement it is possible to use a smaller clamp since the shoe does not have to turn in the clamp. Furthermore, since the plate within the shoe does not have to turn upon turning of the screw the shoe may be held against rotation while the screw is being turned, without the wear that would otherwise take place in the shoe if the plate were turning therein.

It is to be noted that the heel plate is not limited for use with a shoe wherein the heel makes a particular angle with the body portion since, due to the swivel arrangement, the heel plate automatically adjusts itself to all angles. We propose to make the heel plates in two or three different sizes for use with larger or smaller sized shoes. Thus the present clamp, along with one or two extra heel plates, may be used on all sizes of shoes and for all the different styles.

While I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative.

What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A clamp for holding the heel of a shoe against the body portion of the shoe, said clamp comprising a bracket member having a heel surface against which the heel portion of a shoe is adapted to bear, a screw member for forcing the shoe against the heel surface, the body of the clamp being of insuflicient size to permit the turning of a shoe about its heel as a center when the same is held against the heel surface, a plate member for fitting into the inside of a shoe at the heel portion thereof, said plate having a stud member with which the screw cooperates for forcing the plate against the heel surface, said plate being freely rotatable with respect to the screw so that upon turning the screw the shoe need not turn and the plate remains stationary with respect to. the shoe, said plate being swiveled with respect to the screw so that it adjusts itself to transmit the clamping force along the axis of the heel regardless of the angle between the heel and the shoe.

2. A clamp for holding the heel of a shoe against the body portion of a shoe, said clamp comprising a bracket member having a heel. surface against which the heel portion of a shoe is adapted to bear, a screw member for forcing the shoe against the heel. surface, a plate member for fitting into the inside of the shoe at the heel portion, said plate having a curved surface conforming with the surface on the inside of the shoe with which it contacts, one of said members having a stud portion and the other of said members having a socket in which the stud portion is adapted to rest, said stud being removable from said socket and being freely rotatable therein so that upon turning of the screw the plate need not rotate and remains stationary with respect to the shoe, said plate being swiyeled with respect to the screw so that it adjusts itself to tarnsmit the clamping force along the axis of the heel regardless of the angle that the heel makes with the shoe.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of October, A. 1)., 1929.

LOUIS NEEDLMAN.

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